maikeru
Novice
Seeking serenity, one string at a time.
Posts: 6
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Post by maikeru on Mar 28, 2012 7:32:31 GMT
Greetings and salutations to all.
Let me begin by saying I wish everyone a most fantastic Wednesday.
I have quietly browsed this forum for a select few months now, gathering some information hither and yon. I have yet to completely immerse myself into every facet of the Qin's history, culture, and design both physically and spiritually. I can and do however enjoy the resonant and deep sound it is capable of emitting and I can certainly appreciate the apparent serenity it gives the performer.
After a quick glance about, I found my Qin at Sound of Asia. Carol Chang was most pleasant in my email to her regarding the different sound qualities of her most popular Qins. So far, I highly recommend her business, and now have a beautiful Qin resting peacefully and powerfully upon my table-side. And while it is by no means or definition a unique piece (in regards to other, higher quality Guqins) it is perfect for my usage and the joy it's given me thus far justifies the price spent.
I am, however, lacking in playing ability, as a beginner such as myself could expect to be. I have no previous musical experience of any kind, (which could be either a boon or a curse,) and find I am hungry for tutelage.
I am aware of a gentleman and professional Qin master by the name of Jim Binkley whom resides in Portland, Or. which, most fortunate for me, is only 45 minutes away. I am not sure whether Mr. Binkley teaches Qin to individuals such as myself, but I am most eager to find out. I know there are individuals here that know him personally and would very much appreciate their input. I have seen his video's on youtube and just in my few small viewings, I have learned alot about playing technique and even some pointers on proper posture. He does upload the highest-quality video performances of Qin-playing on youtube, and that in itself helps immensely.
At this stage, I am not sure how (if any came to pass) teachings could/would impart upon my intended playing style. I have watched SCWGuqins video's on youtube almost religiously, and his slow deliberate playing style, letting every note falter and resonate is beyond amazing and something which one day I could hope to replicate.
I apologize for my long-winded introduction. Thanks for reading it. Any advice or wisdom anyone wishes to give a scholar would be most humbly appreciated. I again thank you. ;D
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Post by davidmdahl on Mar 28, 2012 15:36:06 GMT
Welcome to the forum, maikeru. I am particularly glad to welcome a fellow Portlander. If you are interested in the guqin, you are indeed lucky to live in the Portland area. Jim Binkley is a wonderful guqin player, and I imagine just as good a teacher. Jim has a passion for the guqin, and loves to share it. I highly recommend contacting him.
At times, Jim has performed with my erhu teacher at the Chinese Garden. You might ask Jim for a heads-up when he plays there next.
Maybe we will bump into each other at a future Chinese music event.
Best wishes,
David
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Post by oskarch on Mar 29, 2012 2:09:13 GMT
Hello maikeru,
I am also a beginner. I have a lower-level qin, which is plenty good enough for me.
Even if I haven't progressed very far, I do think that lessons can help with a lot of subtleties. You will be able to ask him exactly what you can do to get that great sound.
Best wishes.
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maikeru
Novice
Seeking serenity, one string at a time.
Posts: 6
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Post by maikeru on Mar 29, 2012 4:29:16 GMT
Greetings David. Thank you for welcoming me! I am still not sure how I can get a hold of Mr. Binkley, but if memory serves his website did contain contact information, I will try and search for his website momentarily. While I have you, what may I ask is Portland's Chinese Garden's policy on music being played within their establishment? I figure as it is a private firm they would have some reservations and/or some means of renting out their facility for use of musical performances. I do not intend to perform there obviously, but practicing in such an environment could prove inspirational and positive. I have been meaning to travel down to the Chinese Garden for many years now and never have... perhaps this is my catalyst to do so. Also, how often do you or Mr. Binkley perform there? (@ Oskarch.) Thank you for welcoming me as well! Yes I do hope Mr. Binkley can help guide me on my path to the proper playing of the Qin. As I know of no other true Qin masters around here, he is of my only hope. However, like every other element in (my) life I could simply tutor myself, or gather information across the internet, but there is something about the Qin that makes me believe that masterful guidance is required to truly honor the culture of this instrument. At very least, it does beckon a need to be played properly, in a truly authentic fashion worthy of it's history. While I do believe that proper playing is essential, I cannot agree that being taught has any bearing on "sound." IMHO, The sound is what the instrument is capable of, music and harmony are entirely yours to command. As T.S. Elliot said, "You are the music while the music lasts."
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Post by oskarch on Mar 29, 2012 16:24:44 GMT
I think we probably do agree, though my wording wasn't best. Maybe better named it would be not "sound" but "style" (as you did use that word).
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maikeru
Novice
Seeking serenity, one string at a time.
Posts: 6
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Post by maikeru on Mar 29, 2012 19:40:59 GMT
Oh my goodness, not sure why I took the wording literally but yes I totally understand now what you meant. I sincerely apologize. Yes we do agree. I was wondering last night, I live and work in a world (as I'm sure many of us do) where having the essential long-fingernails to play the Qin properly is actually a danger and/or an inconvenience to our day-to-day business. What is a direct replacement that individuals like myself could use in place of it? I understand a certain type of sea-shell taped to the finger-tips is a popular choice.
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Post by oskarch on Mar 29, 2012 23:37:20 GMT
I haven't seen anyone play guqin with other than bare fingers/nails. There are such attachments for guzheng, but I don't know if they'd work with qin.
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Post by davidmdahl on Mar 30, 2012 2:30:27 GMT
Maikeru, I seem to have an open invitation to play at the Lan Su Chinese Garden. At least I have never been turned away. They know me by my association with my erhu teacher. I don't know what your experience might be. If you want to practice your dizi loudly in the Tea House, they will probably show you the door, or at least recommend a long break, but if you play something well and at least don't drive away the visitors, you will probably be appreciated. You are not going to bother anyone by playing a guqin. <g>
Best wishes,
David
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maikeru
Novice
Seeking serenity, one string at a time.
Posts: 6
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Post by maikeru on Apr 4, 2012 8:52:36 GMT
Well thank goodness I do not possess the desire to play a Dizi. The Qin I bought was, as Carol Chang assured me, a very quiet one. Indeed she was right, as it is barely audible over other ambient noises. I view this as it's one of it's strengths, and was the main reason I purchased it in the first place. The idea of a quiet(er) instrument has actually proven to be more beneficial and enjoyable to me than I had originally thought it would. That being said, I do not possess a proper skill-set, nor any musical notation and knowledge as of yet that would make my playing of the Qin enjoyable for others to hear, (not that that is my intention.) For now I will refrain from actually practicing the Qin at the Portland Gardens, but it is good to know that they do not frown upon such activities.
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maikeru
Novice
Seeking serenity, one string at a time.
Posts: 6
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Post by maikeru on Apr 12, 2012 6:52:36 GMT
I conclude my first lesson with Mr Binkley as not only a wonderful experience, but a very successful one as well; A lesson from which I gleamed wisdom and knowledge of not only a musical instrument, but of a culture and language completely different from anything I have ever experienced. After brief and formal introductions, and utilizing a tool which I never even thought of using before (guitar tuner,) Mr Binkley took and returned an instrument tuned to a much more lively and resonant sound, and gave it life I never even knew it had. I then stood agape at "Wine Crazy" being performed on it, and I was able to truly appreciated the sound of the Qin for what it was capable of for the first time. Mr. Binkley's youtube videos, although great, are no match for his live performance. It is of my belief he was pleased at the construction of the Qin I had purchased from Ms. Chang, although he never said one way or another about it. I was handed some tablature, but one of Chinese (or) Mandarin to begin with. I was mildly overwhelmed by it, and still to this moment do not know of the proper enunciation's and the correct wording of what was presented. Even the word "tablature" which I have used to explain it is one I'm not sure defines the Asian characters properly and authentically... I will learn and know soon enough. I learned quite a bit of the proper fingering techniques, the terms and characters of "Tiao" and "Gou," the meaning of "Hui" and the numerals presented in the thirteen that reside on the Qin, the proper enunciation of the word "Guqin" and the different variations of what the word "Qin" represents in Mandarin, a basic overview of tuning key, the characters corresponding to the left hand, as well as other little items that would be rather hard to explain here. Mainly because I do not possess the wisdom thus yet to qualify the explanation of them. Of course, it is nothing new to Guqin veterans. Returning to the lesson, My Binkley was most patient with me and kept the lesson both very formal but quite lighthearted, both principles I hold in high esteem and was thankful for. I was surprised by how quickly the hour flew by. In the conclusion of the lesson I was asked the very question which I feared I would be asked, which was how I first became acquainted with the Qin. I said that honestly I really could not remember, but I believe (sheepishly) that I first fell in love with it's sound when the Qin was played in the foreign motion picture "Hero." The scene in which the characters Jet Li and Donnie Yen portray during the dueling scene in the courtyard (portrayed incorrectly as a chess house) and the blind Qin master plays while both warriors fight within their minds. I wonder how many people were inspired by that scene to master the Qin? I cannot imagine I am the only one. What I do know for fact is what I told Mr. Binkley. "I have tried playing guitars, I have tried playing piano's, they are soul-less to me in comparison to the Qin."
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